Cameron Heyward is coronary heart and soul of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the defensive lineman has been for a while. Chosen within the first spherical of 2011 NFL Draft, Heyward realized from Steeler greats like Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel earlier than bursting onto the scene as the most effective defensive lineman in soccer.
Heyward is a Steelers captain, and his presence has actually proven on the sphere. Taking part in within the Black and Gold for 14 years has led to Heyward turning into a task mannequin for youthful gamers and a staple within the Pittsburgh group.
“You might inform by all the grey hairs in his beard that he has been right here perpetually,’ OLB T.J. Watt joked Saturday throughout his media session through Steelers.com. “However he’s finished some wonderful issues. He’s the true epitome of a Pittsburgh Steeler, on and off the sphere. A man that we will all look to as a task mannequin teammate, Pittsburgh citizen and likewise participant. [I] have a lot respect for Cam and he’s nonetheless doing it at a really excessive stage.”
Heyward has amassed a formidable 674 tackles, 125 tackles for a loss, 83.5 sacks (second most in Steelers historical past), 48 cross breakups, eight pressured fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, and two interceptions. For his nice play, Heyward has been a three-time first-team All-Execs and made six Professional Bowls. Simply this previous yr, he received the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Yr award.
As Watt mentioned, Heyward remains to be enjoying at actually excessive stage as he had been arguably Pittsburgh greatest defensive participant this season. By means of seven video games he has 27 tackles, together with 4 for a loss, three sacks, and one cross breakup. He has helped the Steelers set up themselves because the second=greatest rush protection within the NFL, permitting solely 81 speeding yards per sport.
The one factor missing on Heyward’s resume is playoff success. All through his profession he solely has received three playoff video games. Hopefully this yr Heyward and Watt can expertise some playoff success behind an elite protection they anchor and an enhancing offense.
